If you asked top golf instructor Devan Bonebrake to name the three of the most common Swing Killers that keep recreational golfers from realizing their true potential, he’d tell you many amateurs golfers—and, occasionally, even pros— struggle with alignment, rotating their bodies correctly and staying connected during the golf swing. That’s why Bonebrake is a huge advocate of the Swing Align training aid (www.swingtrainer.com) that provides immediate corrective feedback on those key components of a successful golf swing. He advises golfers who want to get better in 15 minutes or less– at home or on the range– to give Swing Align a try.

As a Golf Digest Top Young Teacher, Golf Channel Academy lead instructor and director of instruction at Rolling Hills Country Club in Los Angeles Calif., Bonebrake relies on techniques that his students will trust immediately, techniques that can be used time after time to develop proper practice habits they can take with them to the golf course. Swing Align, a wearable device with a highly visible alignment rod running through adjustable arm cuffs, is an easy tool to have students slip on and immediately visualize their target line and body alignment. They can then use the training device to make an athletic swing with any clubs, even their wedges or putter (more on this in a moment).

“One of the great things about Swing Align is how you can use it to hit balls with full-swing shots and stay connected, developing important muscle memory in the golf swing,” Bonebrake says. “The connection belt guides your movement, and because it holds the arms together, you can't help but properly deliver and release the club squarely. There is no need to hold back. You can set up and take full speed swings with any club and be confident that you are properly aligned and connected.”

Swing Align provides solutions to improve multiple aspects of the golf swing. It is designed to be primarily worn on the upper body across the biceps for swing training, but can also be worn on the lower body just above the knees for additional short game training.

After just one practice session with Swing Align, founder Chris McGinley says the feedback from the device is profound and telling.

“The typical reaction is ‘Wow, what I think I'm doing and what I'm actually doing is significantly different!’ Many golfers don't realize their upper body is out of alignment with their lower body when they set up. Or, they don't realize how poorly they rotate their upper body. Often, they don't realize how much their arms fly away from their body during the backswing or follow through. A common reaction we get after one golf swing is, ‘Okay, now I understand what it feels like to set up square and stay connected through the entire swing,’” McGinley explains.

There’s a series of benefits that can help golfers during every practice session, and on every swing:

Aligning the Body

Swing Align is a clear and intuitive golf alignment aid. Most experienced golfers are already familiar with one of the most basic alignment tricks; having someone hold a golf club against their chest to show where the body is pointed. In the past, someone else had to facilitate this method. Not anymore. Swing Align uses this concept to allow golfers to easily practice and perfect proper alignment on their own.

The Backswing

The backswing can be broken down into three integral parts: rotation, swing plane, and keeping the arms and body connected. Swing Align makes common backswing flaws easy to identify, and helps golfers to fully rotate their shoulders on plane while using the big muscles to keep the arms and body synchronized. Many instructors refer to this rotation and synchronization as connection.

Rotation and Swing Plane

Swing Align provides great visual feedback at the top of the backswing. If the alignment rod is perpendicular to the target line at the top of the swing, the body has properly rotated. If the alignment rod is horizontal to the ground, or pointed slightly down, the body has maintained the proper spine angle and swing plane while rotating.

Arm-Body Synchronization

Swing Align is the perfect tool for arm-body synchronization. The connection belt prevents the arms separating from the body, and from each other during the swing, freeing the golfer up to focus on using their larger muscles to rotate and power the golf swing.

Strong Feedback

Swing Align provides powerful feedback and visual memory through the alignment rod; making it easier to learn alignment, rotation and swing plane on your own. Regular use of the device while hitting balls promotes muscle memory, especially for timing and connection. The device can be used on or off the course, on the range or in your kitchen, wherever you need it most!

Swing Align Short Game- A Practical Fix for Scoring

Earlier this year, the Swing Align team unveiled a solution for golf’s all-important scoring zone with Swing Align Short Game (https://swingtrainer.com/products/swing-align-short-game). Swing Align Short Game teaches golfers to maintain proper arm spacing by teaching them to use their arms and shoulders to create the perfect triangle.

The training aid also helps synchronize the arms to move at a consistent speed, allowing the bigger muscles to control shots for more repeatable results. Golfers prone to using their arms or hands to flip or swipe at the ball can quickly feel what it’s like to make well-struck wedge shots, pitches, chips and putts.

Swing Align Short Game fits easily across your chest and uses a highly-visible alignment rod with adjustable O-ring stops to create different arm-spacing options. The flexible cuffs are mounted with their openings facing out; using light pressure to push the arm cuffs together against the stops helps you stay connected with your arms in a perfect triangle, producing a more controlled short game swing or putting stroke.

“So many golfers, even really good players, struggle with consistency in their short game. Swing Align Short Game is designed to help golfers remove the guesswork from scoring shots and replace it with consistent, repeatable techniques you can trust when it matters most,” says McGinley.
Swing Align and Swing Align Short Game are being used by golfers of all skill levels. Highly skilled golfers who want to reinforce the proper fundamentals, serious golfers committed to learning and improving, recreational players who need a quick tune up, and beginning golfers interested in learning how a proper golf swing feels. In addition, instructors are using Swing Align and Swing Align Short Game to make their lessons more effective.

Swing Align and Swing Align Short Game have been developed by golf industry veterans with more than 60 years’ experience, and with input from PGA Tour players and top golf instructors. Both devices are available in standard or XL sizes and have an optional, ground-based alignment product with a sliding ball position indicator puck.

Swing Align and Swing Align Short Game are available for $124.95 each. Any Swing Align device can be easily modified into a Swing Align Short Game by purchasing the Short Game Rod for an additional fee. And for those seeking the ultimate practice setup, Swing Align Pro, the company’s best seller, includes the Swing Align and Swing Align XL, plus a Swing Junction and Short Game rod set for Full Swing and Short Game improvement.

For more information, visit Swingtrainer.com.